Year 7 programmers – BBC Micro:bit

This term will see all of Year 7 students beginning to programme in their Computing lessons using the new exciting BBC Micro:bit device. A collaboration between 29 partners, the Micro:bit is the BBC's most ambitious education initiative in 30 years, with an ambition to inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers. The UK currently faces a critical skills shortage in the technology sector and the BBC and partners aim to help change that. In the 1980s, the BBC Micro introduced many children to computing for the first time and the BBC Micro:bit, part of the BBC’s Make it Digital initiative, will build on the legacy of that project for the digital age. It aims to inspire…

This term will see all of Year 7 students beginning to programme in their Computing lessons using the new exciting BBC Micro:bit device. A collaboration between 29 partners, the Micro:bit is the BBC’s most ambitious education initiative in 30 years, with an ambition to inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers. The UK currently faces a critical skills shortage in the technology sector and the BBC and partners aim to help change that.
In the 1980s, the BBC Micro introduced many children to computing for the first time and the BBC Micro:bit, part of the BBC’s Make it Digital initiative, will build on the legacy of that project for the digital age. It aims to inspire young people to get creative with digital and develop core skills in science, technology and engineering.
We are excited to launch this new project which will give all Year 7 students at Chelsea Academy the opportunity to learn programming skills and the science behind it.  All students will be allocated a device each and will be working towards a project of their choice where they will allow users to interact with the device.
This project will enable our learners to understand the basics of programming and then to go on and further study this area within their Computing lessons.  This will be the first step at helping the UK close the skills gap when it comes to programming.